WESTWOOD—The
completion of the Sepulveda project will not occur in May 2012. It has been
delayed until December 2013, as announced in a meeting on November 15, at the
Westwood Recreation Center. The cause of the delay is the erroneous use of
materials by the contractor, which is needed to rebuild the retaining walls.
Currently, Sepulveda Way is still closed until the work on north Sepulveda is
completed; the northbound Sunset on-ramp is programmed to open in spring 2013.

Sunset Bridge Under Construction

The
work on Montana Avenue and Church Lane will also continue, and is considered to
be the last part completed. The construction work in between these two streets
is located near residential homes, and the contractor is installing sound-proof
walls. Another construction site in Sherman Oaks will proceed in widening the
freeway. By December, sound wall reconstruction will begin. The final stage of
construction on the project will occur on Wilshire with the addition of half of
the 23 total bridges in the project.

In
addition to the information provided on how the community will be affected by
construction, various topics were discussed at Thursday’s meeting. Such topics
included traffic light synchronization, blinding lights from freeway
construction, intended ramp closings and traffic jams around Sunset Boulevard.
These concerns were brought up by the residents who are affected by the I-405
Improvement Plan.

One
resident did mention how commuting has gotten a little better, especially with
the four lane road on Sunset Boulevard.

Another
complaint heard during the meeting came from a resident who expressed the
difficulty to go in and out of her neighborhood due to construction being done.
Nonetheless, some of the people who attended the meeting had an optimistic
attitude that everything would be better soon.